Heating apparatus



Oct. 10, 1939. P. c. L. DEMARAY 2,175,332

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24,1936 4 sheets-sheet 1 Fly. 2..

fNVENTORZ PHILIPPE CHnQLEs Lows Dsmfiszgnv HTTORNEI Oct. 10, 1939. P. c. L. DEMARgAY amwme APPARATUS Filqd Jan. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PmuPPe Cunmss Louus Dsmnngnv HTTORNEI Oct. 10, 1939. P. c. L. DEMARgAY HEATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV IITOR'.. Pmu we. CHFIRLes Lou's Dcmrmgnv Oct. 10, 1939. I C.'L. DEMARCAY HEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 24, 1936 INVENTORZ PHILIP" Cunmgs Lows Dcmnngm bi/MAM n'rTo NE:

Patented Oct. 10, 1939:

UNITED STATES HEATING APPARATUS Philippe Charles Louis Demarcay, paimm Vienne, lh-ance Application January 24, ms, Serial No. 00,550

In France October 22,1935

11 Claims.

7 This invention relates to a heating apparatus particularly suitable for domestic use, but also applicable for the heating of large premises, workshops, public halls, etc. I

This apparatus presents the following advan tageous features:

v 1. It is capable of burning all solid fuels indiscriminately, without changing the construction-necessitating the intervention. of a skilled workman. Moreover, 'the apparatus is readily adaptable to burning fuel oil, by merely attach ing a special burner thereto and providing a protecting plate for closing the solid fuel receptacle.

The apparatus is especially adapted for burning fuels the combustion of which is ordinarily dimcult or necessitates special arrangement, for instance fine fuel of any nature, coke and anthracite breeze, etc., as well .as wood in all its 3 forms, including tree trunks out according to dimensions consistent with those of the feed h ppe 2. The furnace is automatically fed, without intervention of mechanical means operated from u the exterior.

3. Inits ordinary form of construction, it necessitates, only one charging in coal or coal dust every 24 hours.

4. Its operation does of fans.

- 5. It can be easily substituted for heating apparatus already installed without modification of the accessories associated with such apparatus.

6. This apparatus is readily adaptable to in- 5 stallations utilizing hot air, or hot water (steam or hot water). In the latter case, the air tubes are replaced by straight, curved or helical water tubes, or by water jackets concentrically arranged or arranged as bames.

7. In the case of hotair heating, the apparatus not necessitate the use avoids the frequent inconveniences of old hot air stoves in which a portion of the gases of the furnace succeeded in penetrating into the'premises to be heated.

described hereinafter, the heating apparatus comprises the combination of thefollowing elements, some of which in themselves constitute particular objects of the invention:

1. A fuel feeding hopper, made of heat insulating material, or cooled by circulation of air and resting, in this case, ona crown by means of hollow arms.

2. A furnace containing superposed grates with 5 central concentric" openings.

In an example of construction which will be (Cl. l1I-29) 3. A system'of'tubes, arranged in the space. through which the hot gases pass when they issue from the furnace, this system supplying hot air to a heat chamber fromwhich distributing conduits extend, g 4. A-cone controlling the admission of fuel and closing the hopper for maintenance purpom.

In the accompanying drawings; I Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a. furnace embodying the features of the present invention; 10

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken approxilnately on the line A-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 315 a sectional view taken along the lines C-B-li-F-G-H of Pig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a system of 15 rates suitable for use in connection with the apparatus herein described;

Fig, 5 is a central longitudinal section through a modified type of furnace showing a modified form of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 6 is a central sectional plan'view of the furnace shown in Fig. 4;

Rig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-8 of Fig. 4, showing the construction of' the furnace wall, the heatas ing apparatus being removed therefrom;

Fig. dis a sectional'plan view of a portion one form of means for controlling the admission of air to the states of the furnace; Fig 9 is a vertical section through a' portion of a grate illustrating its construction adapting" it for application of the air-controlling means shown in Big, 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through a portion of a grate assembly showing a modified form of air-controlling means individually operable for each grate section;

' Fig, 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the air-controlling means for all of the grate sections operable as a unit.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, it will be seen that the heating apparatus comprises a tubular feeding hopper which, most generally will be axially and vertically arranged; this hopper is designated by I and its wall will conveniently be made of refractory materials in order .to avoid the distillation or heating up of the fuel it contains. The hopper will feed the furnace by gravity. Its capacity is sufficient for avoiding too. frequent charging operations.

In the example illustrated in Big. 1, the hopper i is provided with a double refractory wall 2-2 with internal circulation of atmospheric air. For that purpose, it is arranged on a hollow" crown 3, also made of refractory material, which 55,

- fitted on the refractory portion.

is provided with a number of hollow arms 3 4, etc., four in number in the example under consideration. Through these arms (Figs. 1 and 3) the crown rests on a masonry or brickwork I surrounding the furnace and having channels 5 opening in said arms, so that in the annular space of the hopper can circulate atmospheric air entering, according to the direction indicated by arrows 1 one or more intake ports 6.

The cooling air heated by coming in contact with the hopper, is evacuated, according to the directions indicated by the arrows I, through special conduits 3| (Figs. 1 and 2), distinct from that through which the combustion gases escape. The hopper can be simply constituted by a cylindrical heat insulated element internally or externally provided with.a steel plate having, at its lower part, a ledge by means of which it is The hopper can also be cast in one piece and secured to the upper part of the apparatus by any suitable means. A. plug i is provided for closing the hopper after the same has been charged.

The grate of the furnace is constructed in such a manner that not only can it receive a large quantity of air laterally, as ordinary grates, but moreover with a mass of air arriving from all directions. The grate is constituted by several superposed elements arranged in stepped relation, three in number being shown in the example illustrated in the drawing (Figs. 1 and 4).

These elements are in, the shape of crowns, each of which comprises, on the one hand, an inner part made of bars 8 foreshortened so ,as to form between the ends of diametrically opposite bars a central cylindrical space 9 and, on the other hand, a peripheral ledge II connected to the said inner part by spokes II and resting in an annular groove of the masonry or brickwork I.

An operating handle I! allows of imparting to each grate an angular displacement of suitable amplitude, for instance in order to clear the interstices of the element. The bars 8 will, preferably, be very close to each other. It will also be convenient to give to the elements of the grate a certain conicity and to bevel the inner ends I! of the bars, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The heating of atmospheric air, in order to distribute it in the various premises to be heated by means of hot air vents, is effected in a series of tubes i4 arranged about the hopper (Figs. 1 and 2) in the space IS through which pass the hot gases produced by the combustion in the 5 furnace.

These tubes ll open, at their upper ends, in a heat chamber Ii. The atmospheric air enters "(arrows f) a port i1, and passes through the vents (not shown).

The tubes l4 will be made of any suitable material having in particular the property of being impervious to the furnace gases at the temperature of the heating enclosure, that is to say at about 900 C.

The number and diameter of these tubes will be determined by calculation or experience according to the dimensions of the apparatus and the conditions of utilisation.

The tubes it, instead of being rectilinear, are

preferably arcuate or incurved, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to increase their heating surface, and

so as to surround the fuel in ignition in order to permit such, the space II into which the hot gases from the furnace rise as indicated by the arrows I, is given the maximum width consistent with the dimensions of the apparatus and with the installation of the hopper and its cooperating elements.

Eventually, the tubes I will be secured in a metal framework against which will be erected the refractory portion of the apparatus, the whole being, in any case, constructed in such a manner that a rigorously fluid-tight joint is provided between the path followed by the heating air on the one hand, and the combustion gaseson the other hand, the latter being finally evacuated through a conduit ii towards the chimney.

An important feature of the invention resides in the combination, with the installation above described, of a cone I! having the double function of partially or completely closing the hopper I during the working of the apparatus or during the maintenance operations (for instance the cleaning of the grates) and to.control the admission of fuel to the furnace.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. this vertically movable cone occupies, during the working of the apparatus, a position which sumciently uncovers the opening of the hopper in order that the grate should continuously receive the necessary quantity of fuel, the latter spreading over the grates and'on the side wall of the cone.

The level at which this cone is held stationary allows therefore of controlling the consumption.

For closing the hopper, when the furnace is to be cleaned, the cone is lifted, for instance by acting on an operating lever 20, or by pulling it by means of a cable, link or its equivalent. attached to a hook II, which constitutes the end element of a rod passing vertically through the cone and secured to the base" of the cone,'or of a cylinder 23 serving as a base for the latter.

The cylinder 23 is guided, for instance, by means of a collar 2' connected by spokes I! to the masonry of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 1. This masonry is perforated with openings 1|, provided with dampers, shutters or their equivalents, and so distributed as to ensure uniform admission of atmospheric air to the furnace.

The cone can, at will, be removed from the furnace, for instance when wood is used as fuel.

In' the forms of construction which will be described hereinafter are also to be found in particular the upper hopper serving to supply the furnace with fuel, as well as the device'for controlling the admission of fuel and for closing the hopper.

The modifications in the apparatus from that described above mainly relate, on the one hand, to the means used for reheating the air adapted to be sent inthe distributing conduits, and on the other hand, to the constitution of the grate, and, finally, to the arrangement of the hopper and of its distributing closing cone.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, it will be seen that Ill designates the supply hopper, I l2-lll the cylindro-conical device for controlling the admission of fuel and closing the hopper, Ill the system of I superposed grates, II! the inlet to the furnace for the air ensuring the 'combustim, fresh air inlet to the heater, and I" the outlet for the gases of the furnace.

In this example, the reheating of the air is obtained:

(a) By contact of fresh air with a first casing I. the .70

tory material, is, preferably, provided with ribs I, in order to increase the surface of the calorific exchanges These ribs are fitted on a steel sheet plate III, or the like. which completely en circles the casing. I

(b) In combination, or not, with the preceding means, by contact of fresh air with the conduits III for the evacuation of the gases and smokeof the furnace. In the example illustrated, these conduits are three in number, they are connected to the terminal conduit II2, leading these gases and smoke to the exterior. They can be increased as far as their number, length or diameter is concerned. These discharge conduits, internally lined, or not, with refractory materials, are also provided with ribs in on their entire peripheral surface or on only a portion thereof. (c) By providing a second casing H4 in the form of' a refractory sheath enclosing the unit formed by the furnace and the gas discharge device.

By utilising, preferably simultaneously, these three means, the fresh air taken from the atmos phere and admitted into an inlet chamber 5,

first enters (arrows I a chamber 5, where it.

is heated by contact with the gas discharge conduits III-H2, then circulates around the casing of the furnace I 08, between said casing andthe outer casing II4 (arrows I) Fig. 6. Being thus heated, the air is directed (arrows 1 by a conduit. III, towards the distributing chamber (not shown) and from the latter towards the distributing conduits leading to the various premises to be heated.

A second group of modifications concerns the grate.

In thatrespect, adjusting means are provided allowing controiand variation of the 'quantity of air admitted to the furnace.

In this instance, the stepped grates III4III4 I44 (four in number in the example shown in the drawing) fixed, and, with the exception of, the first grate I04, are encircled, by a system of bands or rings comprising, for each grate, a pair of rings Nt -I20", S -420 etc. In each pair, one of the rings is fixed and the other is movable, in contact with the fixed ring, either inside or outside the same. Each of said rings comprises solid portions and apertured portions I 2|; I2", etc., in such a manner that by imparting to the movable ring an angular displacement about its center, the degree of admission of air is caused to vary, and this air, in order to have access to the fuel resting on the grates, must pass through the opening formed by two apertured portions 7 more or less parti ally in coincidence. It is obvious that the maximum admission is obtained, for

each grate, when the apertures in the pair of cooperating rings are in complete register.

The action ofthese rings allows of completely or partially-preventing the access of air on to the fuel resting on the grates and, consequently, of obtaining a simple and eflicient control of the calorific powersupplied by the apparatus.

The admission of air to the grates can also be controlled by shutters m (Fig. 10), pivoted.

at I43, and controlled by links I44, pivotally connected to said shutters at I45. These links provided with handles I46, have notches or teeth I41 (Fig. 11) for holding them stationary in the chosen position. They allow, either of uncovering, or of partially or completely closing the air inlet to the fuel.

For the individual control of the shutters I42, shown in Fig. 10, can be substituted a collective control (Fig. 11). All the shutters, or some of them only, may be pivoted, in this case, on a common link I48, to which is pivotally connected a second link -I49 pivoted at III on a crank I5I which is rockable on a fixed pin I52, the operation of this jointed system being accomplished by means of a single link I 53 provided with a handle I54.

It will be noted, that in the form shown in Figs.

and 11 theside walls I55 'of the ash pit are vertical instead of being of ,conical shape as in the example illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. It is moreover advantageous, in order to ensure a combustion as complete as possible of the carbon monoxide contained in the hot gases generated in thefurnace, to lead these gases to the upper part of the combustion zone.

For that purpose, in the walls of the primary casing I08 of the furnace are provided conduits I24 having their lower orifice at the base of the furnace and opening at I25 near the base of the upply h pper (Figs; 5 and 6).

Figs. 8 and 9 represent a horizontal half-section and a verticaldiametrical half-section, re

spectively, showing a modification of the devices for controlling the admission of air to the grates.

Each of the latter (or some of them only) may be provided with a crown orfiange I36 rigid with the lower face of the grate and in which is provided a series of apertures I 31 which can be either completely covered, or uncovered by a series of shutters I38 pivoted about pins I 39.

The operation ofthese shutters -is effected through the medium of links I40, pivotally connected, on the one hand, to said shutters and, on the other hand, to about the centre of the system of grates.

It will therefore be understood that byfimparting to the movable crown I an angular dis.- placement in the direction of the arrow 1 this causes the simultaneous opening of all the shutters, whilst a displacement in the reverse direction imparted to the movable crown closes the shutters.

The movable crown I will be actuated by suitable operating members.

It is to be understood. that the happen-the obturator for the latter and the grates may be modified as far as the shape and position are concerned without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Finally, it is obvious that the heating ap I atus described above can be used not only or the a second crown I4I movable production of hot air for heating premises or the jackets, or their equivalents, in place of the air heating tubes described above.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of he kind described,'a fuelfeeding hopper, a-feed regulating cone at the de livery end of the hopper, means for varying the position of the cone with relation to the hopper, a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions concentric to the hopper and cone, said portions being in inwardly stepped relation from top to bottom of the grate, each of said steps being provided with air admission ports, means to supply air for passage laterally through the grate ports means for controlling the admission of air at each grate member, each of said air controlling means comprising a pair of adjacent annular members surrounding the grate, one of said annular members being fixed and the other movable, and means to adjust the movable members.

2. In a device of the kind described, a fuelfeeding hopper, a feed regulating cone at the delivery end of the hopper, means for varying the position of the cone with relation to the hopper, a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions concentric to the hopper and cone, said portions being in inwardly stepped relation from top to bottom of the grate, each of said steps being pro- .vided with air admission ports, means to supply air for passage laterally through the grate ports,

means for controlling passage of air through said ports comprising an annular plate for each step of the grate and having a series of peripherally spaced notches, said plates being rotatable to bring the notches into and out the said ports.

3. In a device of the kind described, a fuel-feeding hopper, a feed regulating cone at the delivery end of the hopper, means for varying the position of the cone with relation to the hopper, a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions concentric to the hopper and cone, said portions being in inwardly stepped relation from top to bot- 5 tom of the grate, each of said steps being provided with air admission ports, means to supply air for passage laterally through the grate ports, -a series of shutters hinged to said grate and movable to open and close said ports, and means to 40 actuate said shutters. 1

4. In a device of the kind described, a fuel- !eeding hopper, a ieedregulating cone at the delivery end of the hopper, means for varying the position of thecone with relation to the hopper, a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions concentric to the hopper and cone, said portions being in inwardly stepped relation from top to bottom of the grate, each of said steps being provided with air admission ports, means to supply air lor passage laterally through the grate-ports, a series of shutters hinged to said grate and movable to open and close said ports, the shutters being connected in radial groups, and a series of operating means each connected to a group of said shutters.

5. In a device of the kind described, a fueli'eeding hopper, a feed regulating cone at the delivery end oi the hopper, means for varying the position of the cone with relation to the hopper,

w a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions and operatin position of the cone with relation to the hopper.

a grate consisting of vertically stepped portions concentric to the hopper and cone, said portions 7. In a heating furnace of registry with "vertically ports, the shutters be being in inwardly stepped relation from top to bottom of the grate, 'each of said steps being provided with air admission ports, means to supply air for passage laterally through the grate ports, a series oi shutters hinged to said grate and movable to open and close said ports, the shutters being connected circumferentially, and operating means connected to said shutters, the shutter operating means consisting of a ring surrounding the shutters and links connecting the ring to respective shutters.

of the type described, a fixed vertically disposed fuel-feeding hopper having a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertically movable feed-regulating member disposed below the hopper and presenting thereto a section corresponding in size with the discharge opening of the hopper, said member having an upper continuous oblique surface, a grate having openings for the passage of air and comprising vertically stepped tiers, the level of the successive tiers descending towards thecenter of he furnace, means for admitting air for travers l the openings of the grate, means for vertically displacing the feed-regulating member with respect to the hopper and to the stepped grate and causing said member to engage the discharge opening of the hopper thereby to close the same. 8. In a heating furnace of the type described, a hired vertically disposed fuel-feeding hopper having a discharge opening atits lower end, a vertically movable feed-regulating member disposed below the hopper and presenting thereto a section corresponding in size with the discharge opening of; the hopper, said member having an upper continuous oblique surface, a grate having openings for the e of air and comprising vertically stepped tiers, the level of the successive tiers descending towards the center of the furnace, means for regulating the admission of air laterally for traversing the openings of the grate, means for vertically displacing the feed-regulating member with respect to the hopper and to the stepped grate and causing said member to engage the discharge opening of the hopper thereby to close the same.

9. In a heating furnaceof the type described, a fixed vertically disposed fuel-feeding hopper having a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertically movable feed-regulating member presenting thereto a section corresponding in size with the discharge opening of the hopper, said member having an upper continuous oblique surface and a lower guiding elongation, a grate having openings for the passage of air and comprising stepped tiers, the level of the successive tiers descending towards the center of the furnace, means for admitting air for traversing the openings of the grate, means for vertically displacing the feed-regulating member with reface and a lower guiding elongation, a grate hav P8 9mins! for the passage of air and comprisamass:

ing vertically stepped tiers, the level of the successive tiers descending towards the center oi. the furnace, said grate having an opening through which the elongation of the reed-regulating member'passes, means for admitting air for travers ing the openings of the grate, means for vertically displacing the feed-regulating member with respect to the hopper and to the stepped grate and causing said member to engage the discharge opening of the hopper thereby to close the same.

11. In a heating furnace oi the type described, a fixed vertically disposed fuel-feeding hopper having a discharge opening at its lower end, a vertically movable feed-regulating member disposed below the hopper and presenting thereto a section corresponding in size with the, discharge opening of the hopper, said member having an upper continuous oblique surface, a vertically stepped grate having openings for admission of air and presenting vertical corrugations, means for introducing air for traversing the openings oi the grate, means for vertically displacing the feed-regulating member with respect to the hopper and to the stepped grate'and causing said member to engage the discharge opening 01' the hopper thereby to close the same.

'Pmurms m ours pm. 

